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I heard that in the USAF Officers can serve in Space Command. Just curious what this command is responsible for exactly in space and what they routinely do over time. Also, does it also include Army and Navy?
http://www.afspc.af.mil/
http://www.afspc.af.mil/
Space
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 19
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AFSPACE is actually a subset of US Strategic Command. The overarching USSTRATCOM mission has components from each of the service branches. They are responsible for the MILCOM, GPS, and various sensor space craft orbiting the Earth. They also track foreign space craft so as to not conflict with orbit areas during new lauch activity. There is a great link posted by SN Greg Wright. It should answer many of your questions.
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Maj (Join to see)
Small clarification on a good post: AFSPC is not technically a subset of US Strategic Command, but as a Major Command is a force provider, as is, for example Air Force Global Strike Command for a different mission. Under USSTRATCOM is Joint Forces Component Command (JFCC) for Space, which is manned by AFSPC airmen, as well as Army and Navy space professionals.
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MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P
Maj (Join to see) - You are right, sir. I stand corrected. I was looking at the component aspect instead of the MAJCOM designation. Thanks for catching my typo! You're description is more accurate than mine.
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Air Force Space Command - Wikipedia
Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) is a major command of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. AFSPC supports U.S. military operations worldwide through the use of many different types of satellite, launch and cyber operations. Operationally, AFSPC is an Air Force component command subordinate to U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), a unified combatant command.
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There are some good responses here concerning what AFSPC is, so I will answer the latter part of your question. An Air Force officer assigned to Air Force Space Command can have many duties over time.
First of all, there was a time when nuclear and missile operations officers belonged to AF Space Command, but this if no longer the case. I have to point this out because older folks, the media, as well as Wikipedia may still include nuclear and missile operations under AFSPC when those jobs now belong to AF Global Strike Command. There are some old missileers in AFSPC wearing the "pocket rocket", but space guys no longer perform that mission.
Space Launch. Some space officers lead launch campaigns and are responsible for getting billion dollar satellites launched on quarter billion dollar rockets.
Space Surveillance and Missile Warning. Some space officers lead space surveillance operations. Generally speaking this means watching for debris that may hit the space stations, using "conjunction assessments" and conjunction warnings. Space officers also catalog every rocket launch. This may not seem important, but for the first several minutes of any rocket launch, United States Strategic Command (which includes AF Space Command and AF Global Strike Command), has to verify that the rocket is going into space and is not an ICBM. Nowadays they also track satellites that "fly" around other satellites.
Satellite Command and Control. Some officers lead the collection of telemetry from satellites that give the health and status of the satellite constellations. These officers also are responsible for using commands for satellites to fire orbit keeping thrusters, change crypto keys, or execute anomaly recovery.
Other Duties As Assigned. Some AFSPC officers work in Building 1 operating the PowerPoint Weapons System at the headquarters building in Colorado Springs. Some AFSPC officers do research, development, test and engineering at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. Some AFSPC officers are actually cyberspace operators at various bases.
In summary: AF Space Command officers have a lot of different missions and many daily duties. The answer gets more complicated when including space officers assigned outside of AF Space Command, such as US Strategic Command (which includes AF missileers, Army space and missiles, Navy space, cyberspace and intelligence), National Reconnaissance Office, and NASA liaisons.
First of all, there was a time when nuclear and missile operations officers belonged to AF Space Command, but this if no longer the case. I have to point this out because older folks, the media, as well as Wikipedia may still include nuclear and missile operations under AFSPC when those jobs now belong to AF Global Strike Command. There are some old missileers in AFSPC wearing the "pocket rocket", but space guys no longer perform that mission.
Space Launch. Some space officers lead launch campaigns and are responsible for getting billion dollar satellites launched on quarter billion dollar rockets.
Space Surveillance and Missile Warning. Some space officers lead space surveillance operations. Generally speaking this means watching for debris that may hit the space stations, using "conjunction assessments" and conjunction warnings. Space officers also catalog every rocket launch. This may not seem important, but for the first several minutes of any rocket launch, United States Strategic Command (which includes AF Space Command and AF Global Strike Command), has to verify that the rocket is going into space and is not an ICBM. Nowadays they also track satellites that "fly" around other satellites.
Satellite Command and Control. Some officers lead the collection of telemetry from satellites that give the health and status of the satellite constellations. These officers also are responsible for using commands for satellites to fire orbit keeping thrusters, change crypto keys, or execute anomaly recovery.
Other Duties As Assigned. Some AFSPC officers work in Building 1 operating the PowerPoint Weapons System at the headquarters building in Colorado Springs. Some AFSPC officers do research, development, test and engineering at the Space and Missile Systems Center in Los Angeles. Some AFSPC officers are actually cyberspace operators at various bases.
In summary: AF Space Command officers have a lot of different missions and many daily duties. The answer gets more complicated when including space officers assigned outside of AF Space Command, such as US Strategic Command (which includes AF missileers, Army space and missiles, Navy space, cyberspace and intelligence), National Reconnaissance Office, and NASA liaisons.
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MSgt Walter Thomason
I wasn't aware, Missiles went to Global Strike Command. Heck, when I retired, AFGSC didn't even exist. I know AFSPC was toying around with 2-man missile warning, and space track crews (enlisted). Do you know if they ever made that happen? I also heard several years back the Pave Paws software and hardware was being upgraded. It would be nice to go back to a site to see what has changed.
Of course, no misinformation was intended, I realize now that I'm showing my age. Time has moved on and being out of the game for so long, I am out of the loop. I know one thing that hasn't changed. Officer's may command the crew, but it is the Crew Chief that runs it. :) Having to have the knowledge to work the Crew Commanders position and Space Console Operators position, how could you guys live without us? I miss the long nights telling "war" stories, and when I worked mids with Capt. R, seeing her bang her head against the console falling asleep. I was fortune enough to have worked with some great officers and been part of what I believe was the best crew at Robins AFB before they shut the site down. We accomplished a lot from first tracks to breakups. From system anomalies to system test and everything in between. I'm getting nostalgic here. And before you know it, I'll be telling stories so I'll end it here. Thanks for the update!
Of course, no misinformation was intended, I realize now that I'm showing my age. Time has moved on and being out of the game for so long, I am out of the loop. I know one thing that hasn't changed. Officer's may command the crew, but it is the Crew Chief that runs it. :) Having to have the knowledge to work the Crew Commanders position and Space Console Operators position, how could you guys live without us? I miss the long nights telling "war" stories, and when I worked mids with Capt. R, seeing her bang her head against the console falling asleep. I was fortune enough to have worked with some great officers and been part of what I believe was the best crew at Robins AFB before they shut the site down. We accomplished a lot from first tracks to breakups. From system anomalies to system test and everything in between. I'm getting nostalgic here. And before you know it, I'll be telling stories so I'll end it here. Thanks for the update!
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Maj Walter Kilar
MSgt Walter Thomason - My comment on misinformation was meant for someone else. For you, yes, a lot of changing rather quickly. Also, I am prior enlisted, so I will clarify my statements. The original question asked what the officers do, so I gave the textbook answer. In reality, the enlisted do the hard work. For some systems, it is actually the contractor.
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MSgt Walter Thomason
Believe me, I wasn't insulted, upset, embarrassed or any other emotion. Also, there was no need to clarify your statement, at least not to me. I understood where you were coming from. What I said about Crew Chiefs was just a friendly jibe at Officers (hence the smiley face). The point is that we are a team, the Crew Chief is the linchpin. I took pride in that and apologize if anything more was read into it. Like I said before, I worked with a lot of good Officers that I'd go to war with any day in any decade.
Here's an example. We were on crew and we had a missile warning alert go off at 3-something A.M. It so happened that a lightpen spray designated a satellite as a missile. This was an old method to test the system that wasn't even trained anymore. We ran our checklist and when we asked the maintenance console operator system status, he said the system was stable and no malfunctions (it was his job to check for that). I knew something had to be wrong so I asked twice more and his response was the same so we made the determination of valid. Well, the ORB determined we weren't liable for something we weren't taught but a certain Capt, that I used to laugh at for falling asleep and banging her head on the console took it upon herself to call the Wing and lobby until they decided to change the ORB determination. The kicker was during the ORB, I'm trying to protect my CC and trying to give her side glances so we both don't come out looking like liars all the while she is trying to protect me! I wanted to yell, "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!", so bad. A crit looks worse on her record than it does mine. But, she didn't want me to go down alone. Oh, and that Capt. that got us the crit, I kept my mouth shut on a blatant crit she committed during a missile launch we were on crew together for. Had I known that was how she would have returned the favor. When she was on crew, her crew sucked! We used to follow her crew. Duties left undone, missed passes, etc. We used to cover for them. She was Delta Crew, we used to call them Danger Crew. The following Delta Crew CC was even worse!
Here's an example. We were on crew and we had a missile warning alert go off at 3-something A.M. It so happened that a lightpen spray designated a satellite as a missile. This was an old method to test the system that wasn't even trained anymore. We ran our checklist and when we asked the maintenance console operator system status, he said the system was stable and no malfunctions (it was his job to check for that). I knew something had to be wrong so I asked twice more and his response was the same so we made the determination of valid. Well, the ORB determined we weren't liable for something we weren't taught but a certain Capt, that I used to laugh at for falling asleep and banging her head on the console took it upon herself to call the Wing and lobby until they decided to change the ORB determination. The kicker was during the ORB, I'm trying to protect my CC and trying to give her side glances so we both don't come out looking like liars all the while she is trying to protect me! I wanted to yell, "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP!", so bad. A crit looks worse on her record than it does mine. But, she didn't want me to go down alone. Oh, and that Capt. that got us the crit, I kept my mouth shut on a blatant crit she committed during a missile launch we were on crew together for. Had I known that was how she would have returned the favor. When she was on crew, her crew sucked! We used to follow her crew. Duties left undone, missed passes, etc. We used to cover for them. She was Delta Crew, we used to call them Danger Crew. The following Delta Crew CC was even worse!
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